Swatches Swatches!

For the Southern Cross Fibre & Friends SAL/KAL I have been working on spinning swatches that I then knit up. I still want to wash and block them but I have made a decision. First the pictures. Here they are knitted(woolly on the left - n ply on the right:

Here they are spun and washed (woolly on the top - n ply on the bottom):

I wanted a woolly airy yarn and even though my eyes love the n plied samples - the 2 ply is what I want for this project. Ha - I also got gauge with that one!
Similarly with the felted samples I did for Hannah's Hat - I am not choosing the one my eye loves the best but the one that looks more like Hannah. The one with blue.


I really see how helpful swatches are in so much more than just gauge!

Second Houndstooth

This pattern was the first Spunky Eclectic Weaving Club project and I loved it but gifted the first so bought some more of the same yarn to make one for me – I finally did! Could use a little press but it is finished.

Also swatching for yarn to be used in a SOL/KAL on ravelry. It is Southern Cross Fibre Polwarth - just love Polwarth - in a sale lot plus I will be using some Polwarth Tencel also SCF Snowgum colorway. I am planning on a Vine Yoke Cardigan designed by Ysolda Teague. I will blend the Snowgum and use that yarn for the yoke, the more variegated fiber will make yarn for the body. I am excited about this project, it is another sweater that is constructed side to side.

When I was spinning I was sure I would like the 2 ply the most, it is very airy yarn which I wanted but looking at the n ply, now I am not certain. Kitting each will be next then hopefully a decision!

The Christmas knitting continues!

Finished my brother's microphone cozy, just needs a wash. Knit out of my handspun Spunky Eclectic "Headache" single. This is pre-soak, it is soaking now.

Tendrils finished plying and washed. This if for my next socks with tall cuffs.

At my spectacular, lovely, fantastic weekend at the beach with Elaine, Elizabeth, Susan and Leslie I wove my scarf. I have been wanting to do one with the stripes long ways. Kind of miscalculated so ended up with a more narrow warp than I thought but I have already worn it!

During the week, in bits after work, I got my Harp rewarped with yarn I bought from Spunky Eclectic to do another hounds tooth scarf. The first I gave to Susan but I loved the pattern and the fabric the yarn made so I got yarn for a project for me.

Swatching to find out how the yarn I got for Hannah's Felted Hat will felt. I am thinking I will use light blue instead of the fuchsia. I think that will work better for her. Got too dark to get a picture of my second swatch. This last Christmas gift needed to wait until she was here so I can get a good fit (that is my story and I am sticking to it!)

Now if I just had one more day in the weekend!

Knitting in 2012

Actually, the knitting was the end of 2011 but I seem to have missed taking pictures of a lot of my Christmas knitting. Here are the fingerless gloves, Autumn Mitts, I knitted for my sister out of hand spun 2 ply Shetland from Spunky Eclectic a club fiber in the colorway Pomegranate. The pattern is Leafy Mitts by Ruth Stewart

I also took a picture of my finished Corinne sweater with the crocheted neckline to keep it from stretching. I am so happy with how it now feels - I wear it regularly and am in the process of picking out the fiber for my next hand spun sweater!

Still spinning SCF Tendrils for my next socks and have fiber beamed on my Harp - just need to finish the threading.
Have to love a month that starts with lots of fiber fun!

Connections

As I was responding to some compliments on pictures I had posted in ravelry I glanced down the list of individuals I was including in my post: New Orleans, Texas, England, Wisconsin, Australia. The internet is just amazing! When I heard about the earthquake in Virginia near DC this year I emailed friends and family in the area. Many responded almost immediately since they got the messages on smart phones. I visualize all these contacts as a globe with arcs from each individual connecting them to me - all part of my community. I just love it! I do believed all life on earth is connected - how nice that with the web we can have contact and exchanges too!
Happy 2012 all!

Good Tools

I have always enjoyed getting the tools needed for any art/craft/project/activity. There are always tools that are beautiful as well as functional. Here are some beautiful little tools recently purchased from Fred Hatton at the Endless Mountain Fiber Festival. A lovely supported spindle out of Purple Heart:

Then a new wheel hook out of Tulip Wood and a lovely shuttle, unfortunately I forgot the name of the wood.

They are all just so beautiful to look at - love having the combination of beauty and function.
I started a sweater out of yarn I spun for Tour de Fleece in 2010 - Spunky Eclectic mixed wool colorway "Champagne". The sweater pattern is Corinne by Crystal Erb Junkins. I have a picture of the very beginning and I have about 5 times as much done already. I am hoping for a fast knit since I would like this to be my Rheinbeck sweater. I has an interesting vertical construction knit from the front left edge around - love those vertical stripes!

I have three heart repeats done (first ball) of my Love and Prayers Scarf, that was moving along pretty well before I started the sweater.
Almost forgot the Fiber! I got 3 pounds of Teesdale at EMFF in addition to the tools. Some day, another sweater!

Endless Mountain Fiber Festival

I can't believe I took my camera and only managed to get pictures during the needle felting class I took. It was a wonderful day! Saturday was sunny with a little breeze so it wasn't too hot. I spun with my Spinning Guild, shopped (got several lovely things that will be their own post when I get pictures), visited with animals (sheep, lamas, rabbits and alpacas) and took this needle felting class:

As you can see we are having a lot of fun! There were some students missing due to all the flooding, some people couldn't get anywhere with the roads that were closed. Some vendors weren't able to make it either but thanks to the ones who did! The instructors, Karin and Mina, did a great job:

I really enjoyed the class as well as the entire day. I hadn't gone in several years because this is the start of the week I am usually at the Outer Banks with family but I messed up this year and agreed to two days of away meetings for work. I have next year's beach week on my calendar already!

This is my project in process. I think it will end up being a pin.

So I left the class with the skills and tools to do more needle felting - I think I have enough wool supplies!